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(09/30/09 1:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>New local flavors sweetened the streets of downtown Bloomington last week when Hartzell’s Ice Cream, an independently owned store, opened its doors for business Sept. 22 on Dunn Street.Kirkwood Avenue is popularly known for its abundance of independent restaurants, and local owners Hartzell and Hilary Martel are providing a warm welcome, according to a Hartzell employee.“We’ve had quite a lot of business this week. We have over 30 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream and 24 flavors of soft-serve, and people really seem to be liking them,” employee Kayla Holman said. “There’s a lot of college kids coming in, so it’s been fun.”Employee and senior Jason Minsterketter said the downtown location has sparked energy in the store.“I really like working downtown. Kirkwood has a cool environment, and there’s a lot going on,” Minsterketter said. “I also really like all the flavors this store has right now.”Hartzell’s is featuring ginger spees and pumpkin ice cream throughout the fall season.Junior Kyle Mackey said he likes that another independently owned restaurant has made downtown its home.“The more local, the better. I appreciate the hard work independent owners put into their stores and shops,” Mackey said.
(09/23/09 2:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The aroma of Bloomington’s independently owned restaurants and fresh kettle corn filled the air for the Be Downtown Bloomington Campaign and the Tuesday Lunch Concert Series in People’s Park. Bloomington Parks and Recreation, the Office of the Mayor and Downtown Bloomington Inc. put on the weekly event.The afternoon lunch showcases 50 of Bloomington’s favorite restaurants and introduced the newest addition to Kirkwood. Hartzell’s Homemade Ice Cream on Dunn Street opened Tuesday by the owners of Jiffy Treet.Talisha Coppock, executive director of Downtown Bloomington Inc., said the concert series runs from May through September and is a festive way to bring the Bloomington community together with local restaurants.“It’s a way to celebrate local businesses and the unique atmosphere that Kirkwood has to offer,” Coppock said.Becky Barrick, president of Downtown Bloomington Inc., said she was pleased with the growing popularity of the event.“It’s a great way to promote downtown,” Barrick said. “It gets people out and enjoying downtown while kicking off the autumn season.” Attendees received free mini pumpkins, sweet kettle corn and crisp apple cider while listening to live bands perform.IU parent Chris Voster said the Tuesday festivities bring a fun flavor to People’s Park every week.“It’s a pretty neat little festival, and it’s a pleasant surprise how many people it draws in,” Voster said. “People stop by asking what we are all doing here and end up staying and coming back every week. It really is a fun time.”Bloomington Parks and Recreation partners with local organizations for community events throughout the year such as Canopy of Lights, which is the day after Thanksgiving in downtown Bloomington, and will be partnering with Monroe County Public Library and Bloomington Storytellers Guild on Oct. 23 and 24 for the Festival of the Falls.The festival will feature three bands, 20 booths showcasing seasonal arts and crafts, hay rides and beer gardens sponsored by Upland Brewing Company.
(09/23/09 2:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since 1933, a small brown building adorned with a lighted moose head has drawn Bloomington crowds for homemade ice cream served through a window.The Chocolate Moose attracts lines of customers every year, and seeing Bloomington residents lined up for hand-dipped or soft-serve ice cream any night of the week is to be expected.Bloomington native Jeff Grossnickle loved The Chocolate Moose as a child and worked there as a teenager. He said working at The Chocolate Moose was literally a dream.“When I was working there, I would dream that the owner would ask for me to take care of the ice cream machines for him in the winters, and in my dream I’d be serving all my friends Chocolate Moose ice cream in my basement,” said Grossnickle. “I had that dream a couple times a year.” Today, Grossnickle is the one looking after the ice cream machines – but as the new owner of the historical establishment. Last summer, Grossnickle went for his last taste of Chocolate Moose ice cream for the season and found out it would be the last season if someone didn’t buy the store.“I was walking away and told the owner ‘See ya next year,’ then he said, ‘No, we won’t be opening next year, this is it,’” said Grossnickle. “I went home and talked to my family, and then we decided to buy it.”Grossnickle, a full-time insurance agent, and Joanie Grossnickle, a full-time nurse and jewelry maker on the side, kept their full-time jobs while working at The Chocolate Moose at night. Grossnickle said the experience of taking on a business was a whirlwind for him and his family, but despite the steep learning curve, he never regrets his decision.“This year has been so rewarding. I’ve learned a lot, met a lot of people, and people always have a story about Chocolate Moose, whether it was their first date or where they went with their grandpa,” he said. “There’s something that makes people feel connected to it, and that’s the most rewarding thing – to be a part of something bigger than you.”Grossnickle said it’s not just the tie Chocolate Moose has with the Bloomington community – there’s a connection with the employees who work there.Tyler Reeves, a Bloomington native, said a perk of working at The Chocolate Moose is being able to eat his favorite treat: the hot fudge shake.Recent IU graduate Ariel Jacobi has been working at The Chocolate Moose for two years and said the employees’ bonds make her shifts seem more like hanging out with friends than work. “It’s not so serious as some jobs can be. It’s a relaxed and fun atmosphere,” Jacobi said. “We are a small group, so it makes us a really tight-knit group.”Grossnickle said the group’s strong working relationships weren’t taken for granted during challenging times.“We have really become a family. We’ve gone through a new transition, and we went through a tragedy losing one of our longest employees,” Grossnickle said.Kay Rhodes, a Chocolate Moose employee for 50 years, died of complications from a car accident last spring.“It was a horrible tragedy and had such a unifying effect on all of us,” Grossnickle said. After owning The Chocolate Moose for almost a year, Grossnickle said he’s never looked back and sees the importance of keeping it open even more now.“Although I dreamt about The Chocolate Moose growing up, it wasn’t always a dream of mine to own it,” Grossnickle said. “But when I see kids’ faces light up, I turn to my wife and say, ‘Right there is why I’m here.’”
(09/08/09 1:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>More than 10 years ago, two IU alumni were informed that the building they were interested in for their new business had evicted its tenants and was now for sale. Kerry Feigenbaum, an IU graduate in English, and Lyle Feigenbaum, an IU graduate from the Kelley School of Business, spent three years renovating the building and opened Scholars Inn on New Year’s Eve with one guest.“We saw the place at its worst, but we didn’t look at it as a disaster,” Lyle Feigenbaum said. “We looked at it and saw a lot of potential.” The couple first met and dated at IU but went their separate ways as Kerry Feigenbaum moved to Key West for work and Lyle Feigenbaum moved to Chicago and then to New York for an acting career. The couple reunited four years later.“After we got married, I moved out to New York to be with Lyle. I was there for four months before we decided we missed Bloomington and wanted to find a business opportunity, so we could live here,” Kerry Feigenbaum said.The Feigenbaums’ said that they are grateful for all the success they’ve had in Bloomington.“Bloomington is really an amazing place. Our college friends are pretty jealous we get to live here,” Kerry Feigenbaum said. “But we are especially glad we have the opportunity to give back to the community we love.” The Feigenbaums’ are avid cyclists – a reason they wanted to move back to hilly Bloomington – and supporters of the Cutters’ cycling team. The entrance’s awning is covered with cyclists, Little 500 pictures line the walls and employees all wear Cutters t-shirts stating “Cutters’ cycling, fueled by Scholars Inn.”Lyle Feigenbaum, a Little 500 veteran, said their relationship began with the Cutters when the team started coming in after races. The downtown location is now a second home for the team.The Feigenbaums’ said their love of cycling and athleticism is the motivating force behind their food’s quality. Lyle and Kerry Feigenbaum said Scholars Inn’s menus only offer wholesome and affordable foods with ingredients everyone knows to promote healthy lifestyles.“We understand the importance of eating healthy and working out, and we want to be a place where people can embrace that lifestyle and not have to question what’s in the food they are eating,” Lyle Feigenbaum said.The couple also own Scholars Inn on Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis, which required renovation. “The building was a mess. There wasn’t a ceiling, there were holes in the floor, there was even a mannequin’s head just laying in a corner. It was kind of creepy,” Kerry Feigenbaum said. “But we were able to renovate a building in a not-so-great area of town and bring some life back.”
(09/03/09 3:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In today’s economic climate, some businesses are suffering, but companies offering products at low costs have become a highly frequented market by American consumers.Josh Braverman, spokesman for Family Dollar stores, said the company has seen a 35 percent increase in earnings in the past year.“We have an increased advantage, people are always looking to save some extra money,” Braverman said.Sales in specific products have also seen a substantial change in sales during the past year. According to Time magazine, condoms have increased 10.5 percent in sales and freezing supplies like jars and bags saw a 11.5 percent increase in sales.However, people are ignoring their sweet tooth during the recession as ice cream and cookie sales have dropped 9.7 percent and jam and jelly sales decreased 12 percent, according to Time.Discounted shopping centers are also seeing more business, like Chelsea Premium Outlets. There has been a quick increase of shoppers, said Michele Rothstein, senior vice president of marketing for Chelsea Premium Outlets.“Outlets have always been known for providing excellent value at low prices so shoppers know they will save money,” Rothstein said. “Our merchants are not panicking in this market, but they are definitely being smart about it.”Chelsea Premium Outlets owns more than 40 shopping centers, including the Edinburgh Premium Outlets location, selling name brands at reduced prices.Not only have national companies offering discounted products seen an increase in traffic, but local and independently owned thrift stores are becoming more popular.Wanda Rogers, manager of Bloomington Thrift Store Inc., said she hasn’t necessarily seen an increase in profit, but there are more shoppers coming in.“I don’t necessarily think people are buying more, but I think more people are buying and shopping at our store,” Rogers said.
(08/28/09 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Several bakeries, wineries, businesses and restaurants call Bloomington their home and are advertising their locality. “Buy Local, It’s Better” signs have been seen in windows of local businesses like Butch’s Deli and Max’s Place. The small but thriving local businesses try to bring in tourists to sample their specialties, as well as bring alumni back for their favorite Bloomington foods.The signs are the first phase of a campaign initiated by Downtown Bloomington Inc., partnered with the mayor’s office and supported by many other area associations. “It’s a good thing to buy locally,” Max’s Place owner Travers Marks said. “We encourage people to do so, and local stores have a lot to offer.”Ron Stanhouse, president of Bloomington Independent Restaurant Association, said he’s glad the city embraces and looks for ways to support the local businesses.“Bloomington can really differentiate itself by being a town with so many unique restaurants, and we can’t take that for granted,” Stanhouse said. “The local restaurants can generate a lot of dollars and recycle them faster and to a larger degree back to the community.”Christy Gillenwater, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said Monroe County is especially blessed with independent businesses.“Although we support all area businesses, we know the importance to contributing to promote local businesses as well,” Gillenwater said.
(07/23/09 12:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU scientists might be on their way to simplifying weight loss through a diet shot.IU chemistry department researchers found success in rodent trials but said human testing might be 10 years from now.The drug will mimic the results of gastric bypass, a surgical weight loss procedure, and patients could see a 25 percent weight loss in one week. Researchers said the drug would decrease appetite and boost metabolism with two Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for rapid weight loss.Richard DiMarchi, chairman of the chemistry department and the study’s lead researcher, said the drug could help reduce the world’s obesity numbers.“There’s a global epidemic of obesity,” DiMarchi said. “Our focus is finding therapies to lower body weight and treat diabetes.” Junior Carys Tanner said she doesn’t think the diet shot should be a first choice in weight loss.“It seems unhealthy to lose that much weight in one week,” she said. “If it’s approved, I don’t think it should be everyone’s first option in weight loss.”Brad Woodward, an IU School of Medicine alumnus and Eli Lilly medical researcher, said he’s neutral on the diet shot.“Scientists have made great strides in their research,” Woodward said. “I look forward to seeing what’s next.”
(07/16/09 12:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The first black man to walk in space will visit participants at an IU summer science camp Thursday.Bernard Harris will attend a luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Frangipani Room at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and student events will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m.Harris was the first black to walk in space during his 1995 flight to retrieve Spartan 204, a space shuttle used to observe galactic dust clouds. Harris was selected by NASA in 1990 and became an astronaut in 1991. Before his historic walk in space, Harris flew aboard two space flights logging 239 hours in space. The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, which runs July 12 to 24, is a program for underrepresented middle school students and promotes student engagement in science and math. The free camp is funded by The Harris Foundation, which Harris founded in 1998 with a mission to support math and science education for students kindergarten through 12th grade in a community setting.Participants attend daily classes in subjects ranging from natural science to engineering. IU will be host to the participants in Foster Quad and provide meals to campers free of charge.Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Houston in 1978 and a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. He also earned a master’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Texas, according to an IU press release.Harris grew up in a troubled home with an alcoholic father and said he believes the camp’s opportunities will help kids succeed despite their home conditions.“The young people who come to our camps are really bright,” Harris said in a press release. “When they start, they don’t know much about careers in science, but it’s amazing what you can accomplish with a bunch of intelligent kids in two weeks.”Edwin Marshall, IU vice president for diversity, equity and multicultural affairs, said camps like these are necessary to provide educational opportunities to broaden the horizon for students.“We must commit to educating our youth in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines in early grades to engage and retain student interest in these disciplines through college and career exploration and development,” Marshall said.Paul Edwards, program director for Harris Summer Science Camp, said the camp will open students’ minds to new possibilities in education and careers.“The camp will offer exposure to help students look into careers they may have not thought were possible,” Edwards said. “It gives students an understanding that these opportunities are in their reach.”
(07/16/09 12:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hourly rental vehicles could be available to students this fall if IU Transportation decides it’s a worthy investment.Vendors would supply cars at several locations around campus and the Bloomington area, giving Bloomington and IU residents an opportunity to rent an environmentally safe vehicle with convenient pickup and drop-off locations.If the program is implemented, IU officials said they would like to model the program after the University of Illinois’ program, in which the university teamed with the city government to sign a deal with an hourly rental car vendor. IU officials said the University of Illinois’ program has had success in offering rentals lasting from an hour to four days. Students pay $8 per hour and area residents pay $10 per hour.Kent McDaniel, Bloomington Transit board director, said officials are looking into the program and gathering information before making a decision.“We haven’t decided,” McDaniel said. “We are gathering information required for a proposal we will distribute to vendors, and in turn vendors will send us a return proposal that we will evaluate for how the program should be implemented.”McDaniel said if IU decides to proceed, the program would be implemented by mid fall at the latest, but ideally at the beginning of the fall semester.McDaniel said IU has looked into similar programs before, but was skeptical before giving the program serious consideration.“We watched and observed awhile to see if the program would succeed in Bloomington,” he said. “We waited for the vendors to get their technologies together and improve their business. We also saw the program succeed so we decided to look into it more.”Edwardo Rhodes, School of Public and Environmental Affairs professor, said the program could potentially have a modest impact on environmental health in Bloomington.“It’s a good idea, and a good impact in many cases,” Rhodes said. “I’m not sure it will have a dramatic impact, but it will definitely have some positive gains, which is much better than any net losses.”
(07/12/09 11:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana is one of only 15 states that prohibits the sale of carry-out alcohol on Sundays. But Hoosiers for Beverage Choices wants to change that. The statewide grassroots coalition wants grocery, convenience and drug stores to sell cold beer. They have posted an online petition to change the Sunday alcohol sales law. The petition can be viewed at www.beveragechoices.com.The group says the online petition has acquired more than 20,000 signatures and that it plans to step up it’s campaign to gather even more.The topic didn’t come up in the last Indiana legislative session, but it could arise in future sessions.Senior Liz Adams said she thinks Indiana residents should be able to purchase alcohol on Sundays.“People are usually going out to buy alcohol late Saturday night for Sunday games or cookouts,” Adams said. “So, what’s the point if people are going to drink alcohol on Sundays anyways?”Matt Norris, lobbyist for Hoosiers for Beverage Choices, agreed that alcohol sales should be allowed Sundays.“Sunday is the second busiest shopping day of the week, and our members want the ability to purchase alcohol when they go do the rest of their grocery shopping.”Norris said he hopes the campaign will encourage consumers to contact their legislators.“We hope to engage these forward-thinking consumers in the coming months so that they can discuss with their legislators the importance of these alcoholic beverage law changes,” he said.Brad Rider, president of United Package Liquors, said he won’t support alcohol sales on Sundays and worries legalizing Sunday alcohol sales will add to his economic woes and increase problems with the law for some.“My main concern is increased accessibility for minors,” Rider said. “If they open us up on Sundays and we happen to lose cold beer, we’re gonna be out of business.”
(07/12/09 11:56pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As President Obama comes closer than ever to implementing a public option health care policy, physicians, private insurance companies and the general population continue to speak up about what a public option could do to the industry and the country.Obama’s health care plan reform addresses some of the main issues within the health care debate today: expanding coverage by improving quality and lowering costs while honoring patient choices. The public option would allow citizens the option of choosing health insurance from the federal government as an alternative to private insurance companies. The new plan could mean more affordable health care coverage for most Americans, but citizens are divided about the idea of a public plan.Bloomington resident Darrell Richardson is a father of three and said he knows what it’s like to have good health care coverage and to be without any coverage.“When you’re raising three kids with your wife, you are concerned about what will happen if one of them is injured, and you take additional precautions to prevent injuries or sicknesses out of worry you won’t be able to afford care,” Richardson said.Richardson said he’s happy with his health care coverage now, which is provided by a private insurance company through his job, and he said he worries a public option will affect his current coverage.“I know what it’s like to be without, and I don’t want that for anyone,” Richardson said. “But at the same time I’m worried a public option will put private insurance companies out of business and I won’t be able to select the care I want.”American Medical Association president James Rohack has wielded strong influence in the debate during the last several months. The American Medical Association is America’s largest physician organization with about 250,000 members, according to its Web site. Despite the medical association’s decrease in opposition to the health care reform, its biggest concern continues to be fighting for protection of private insurance companies, which currently provide coverage for 70 percent of Americans.Rohack said if private insurers are pushed out of the market, the corresponding surge in public-plan participation would likely lead to an explosion of costs that would need to be absorbed by taxpayers.Brad Woodward, an IU alumnus and medical researcher for Eli Lilly and Company, said the public option could be detrimental to patients if not properly implemented.“Patients want to have the best care, and sometimes patients need the same tests more than once or a variety of tests to rule out other health problems,” Woodward said. “The public option will possibly remove the option to have multiple tests that can be life saving in some situations.”Not all physicians or physician organizations are against a public option health care plan, though.According to Physicians for a National Health Program’s Web site, the organization supports a single-payer system of insurance. In a single-payer system, a single public agency would collect premiums and pay hospitals for health services, but most care would still be delivered by private doctors and hospitals. Physicians for a National Health Program support a public option health care plan as an alternative to the administrative problems that arise in working with private insurance companies.Josh Chapman, an IU School of Dentistry alumnus, said a public option could be beneficial in the economic climate.“Some people are already losing their private insurance policies and going without insurance, which means they are not going to the doctor and receiving proper care,” Chapman said. “A public option could work, and it should be implemented quickly to prevent more spending on people who are developing ailing health conditions while they are not having insurance.”President Obama said in an Annandale, Va., town hall meeting that physicians are currently rewarded for putting patients through more tests, and to cut costs he said he wants to base public option medicine on the formula used by Mayo Clinic, a medical institute in Minnesota.According to Mayo Clinic’s Web site, physicians work as a team in which primary physicians bring in a team of specialists to brainstorm and decide what tests will be most efficient to rule out unnecessary tests and avoid sending patients to different physicians, which often leads to overlapping tests.Rohack told CNN the association supports an “American model” that would include both “a private system and a public system, working together” and said the public option should be based on the level of coverage provided to Congressional members and federal employees. He said basing the plan on an existing one would avoid having to create a new program from scratch, which would cut costs for the implementation of the health care reform.Although people said they are concerned about the possibility of a public option, some realize it might be the most effective solution.Bloomington resident Larry Wesley, a General Motors retiree, said he’s concerned about a public option, although it might be the only health care option he has. Wesley has recently lost his dental and eye care General Motors once provided to retirees.“I’m concerned because in retirement you have the budget based on what your company promised. Additional costs of paying for dental and eye care out of pocket will now be money coming out of my retirement I didn’t plan for,” Wesley said. “I’m concerned about the quality of a public option, but when it comes down to it, some health care insurance is better than none.”
(06/22/09 1:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU will welcome its first group of Yellow Ribbon Program veterans this fall.The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, known as the Yellow Ribbon Program, is an amended version of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, which expanded educational benefits and funding for tuition reimbursements for military veterans who have served since Sept. 11.IU will award up to $2,000 in additional funds that will be matched by the Veterans Administration for the program – or a total of $4,000 per person – for up to 20 new qualified students annually, according to an IU press release.“The Yellow Ribbon Program provides crucial support to a new generation of military veterans as they pursue college educations,” Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson said in a statement. “Indiana University Bloomington has a long tradition of supporting the men and women of our armed forces, and we are proud to participate in this worthwhile program.”Higher education specialists question how efficient the new legislation will be, but say it might have a positive influence.“We expect that benefits will go down if veterans use the new GI Bill,” said Kathy Crowder, spokeswoman for the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. But it’s still too early to tell how state and federal relations will shake out. “When the regulations are finalized, we will implement them accordingly,” Crowder said in a press conference.The 2009 Yellow Ribbon Program GI Bill will provide 100 percent of funding for a public four-year undergraduate education to veterans serving three years on active duty since Sept. 11. Veterans serving 10 years could potentially offer the education reimbursement benefit to a spouse or child.If a veteran’s tuition fees exceed public in-state undergraduate fees, additional funds may be available for exceeded costs and possibly postgraduate education, according to the GI Bill Web site, www.gibill.va.gov. “This new program is a great way to get student veterans to attend the top schools without worrying about student loans,” said Nicholas Bielinski, president of the IU Student Veterans Association, in a press release. “With the funds of the Yellow Ribbon program, we can focus more as veterans to become leaders and be involved on campus.”
(06/22/09 1:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Seventy-seven students ranging from middle school to college-aged set out Saturday morning to cycle 1,500 miles across eight states in three weeks.The students are members of deCycles, a nonprofit youth leadership organization. The group had an enthusiastic send-off from Bloomington on Saturday with a parade around the city square and motivational speeches from IU women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack and Jill Bolte-Taylor, a New York Times best-selling author.In 1999, the first group of deCyclers set out for its first three-week trek. The organization was developed by a native Bloomington couple to promote emotional growth and self-discovery for young people. Norm Houze, director for the organization, said the physically intense excursion sets high goals for participants.“The trip encourages participants to achieve superior fitness, meet superior goals and set out for unbelievable experiences to broaden their horizons on the quest,” Houze said.Throughout the organization’s 13-year history, it has developed different routes each year spanning different parts of the country. In years past, cyclists traveled routes from coast to coast, Florida to Vermont. Last year, the cyclists traveled throughout the Southwest.“Every year is different. We try not to overlap routes so our cyclists can explore the country’s scenery and encounter different environments,” Houze said.Houze and his wife, Cricket, directors for the organization, said cyclists might want to quit, but quitting is not an option. If students get sick or injured, they can break to recover, but to quit because they are sick of riding isn’t allowed, Cricket Houze said.Norm Houze compared the mind-set for a lengthy endurance trip like this one to going to college.“In college you set out for a degree, you work at it every day, because it doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “Cyclists have to push through like students and follow a structure set out day-by-day to take a road to achieve a goal. Our road just rises, and it rises pretty steep in some places, but no matter how steep you have to just put the gear in and go. You don’t give up until you get there.”Norm Houze and his wife are among 12 adult riders traveling with the student cyclists for encouragement and safety along the journey. The adult riders have a cycling background and have worked as coaches for Little 500 teams. They shift between riding and driving vans that haul equipment, safety gear and food for participants.The IU Student Foundation sponsors the trip and provides juice boxes, food, radios and other safety equipment used during the trip.Local church Unity of Bloomington is another sponsor for deCycles and supplies the group with vans and food throughout the 21-day trip. The riders were sent off with a pancake breakfast Saturday morning. The church also kept the bikes in its chapel the night before the race, with a church member sleeping in the chapel to protect them. Norm and Cricket Houze are longtime members of the church and asked the church for support while starting the organization.Since the deCycles’ 1996 start in Bloomington, it has gained staff members, coaches and support to make each year’s journey a safe and successful trip.The Rev. Lynette Carlson, co-minister of Unity of Bloomington, said the bike journey represents a positive message to IU and the Bloomington community.“We live in a world of unlimited possibilities. If we think we can, we can, and these young riders prove that,” Carlson said. “An individual can make a bigger difference than they ever imagined possible. These kids are realizing they have more stamina, strength and determination than they thought. The youth involved must work together in groups of six and be responsible for each other and cooperate to achieve success.”This year, student cyclists will endure an average of 80 miles per day through the hills of West Virginia and the heat of North Carolina and will arrive home in Bloomington on July 12. This year marks the first time a deCycles trip will begin and end in Bloomington. Participants said the journey is a life-changing opportunity providing different experiences for different people. “I was overweight before the trip, but during the training series and the trip I lost 30 pounds and felt like I accomplished more than I thought I could,” rider Nick Cumings said.
(06/21/09 10:18pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>He’s back.More than a year after he crisscrossed Indiana stumping for his wife during the 2008 Democratic primary season, former President Bill Clinton returned to the state Saturday in Indianapolis.Clinton was the keynote speaker at the annual Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner, a $125-per-seat fundraiser for the Indiana Democratic Party. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Rep. Andre Carson, D-7th, also spoke.Clinton said he was grateful to Indiana and was glad to be back to the state that voted in favor of his wife Hillary in the Indiana Democratic Primary in May 2008.Clinton focused his address on issues he believes the Democratic Party should and will solve, democratic goals he said concern American citizens.“We must ask ourselves the questions important to all Americans,” Clinton said. “How can we rebuild the economy and bring back jobs to the middle class? How can we provide health care for citizens that’s affordable and quality? How can we protect our future generations from global warming?”Former state Sen. Paul Bitz said he hopes the event will contribute to democratic success in Indiana.“This event will help a lot with our party on a local and state level,” Bitz said. “A speaker as well-thought-of as Bill Clinton has also brought a lot of excitement to Indiana Democrats.”Among the leaders was Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, a potential 2012 gubernatorial candidate.Weinzapfel said Indiana needs to make higher education a priority and provide opportunities after graduation.“College should be affordable for all students and those who don’t come from traditional college-educated families,” Weinzapfel said. “We need to provide skills and job opportunities for Indiana students to keep talented Indiana students in our state.”Roy Dominguez, Lake County sheriff and potential 2012 gubernatorial candidate, said a stronger economy will contribute to better opportunities for students.“We need to build back our economy to continue to provide funding for state universities,” Dominguez said. “A strong economy could contribute to lower tuition costs and provide a dream for every child to attend college.”
(06/18/09 11:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet to India and the Chinese government’s establishment in Tibet.Lobsang Nyandak, the representative of the Dalai Lama in the United States, gave a talk at the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Culture Center titled “Future Prospects for Tibet” on Wednesday night. Nyandak focused on the current issue of Tibetan people living in exile under China communist ruling. Nyandak also announced that his Holiness will visit the Center in May of 2010,Nyandak said he hopes the five decades of suffering for Tibetan people will bring international awareness to the current issue and progress towards a dissolve of communist China in Tibet.“We are commemorating the 50th anniversary to remind international communities and Chinese government that much has changed in the world over the past fifty years,” Nyandak said. “Human rights and human dignity are acknowledged and protected but there is still no change in Tibet, China is still the master of Tibet.”Nyandak expanded on Tibet’s strategy to reach a resolution with China and free over a thousand Tibetan exiles, 70 percent being nuns and monks.“China doesn’t currently acknowledge there is an issue with Tibet,” Nyandak said. “We want to communicate with China and resolve the issue with international support and support from Chinese people.”Nyandak said Chinese citizens support Tibet’s efforts and have risked their lives to do so. In 2008, several Chinese citizens signed a petition against their own government. He said with the support of Chinese citizens and Tibet’s strategic outreach plans, Tibet will move towards freedom.“We want to reach out aggressively to other countries to show the desperation of the Tibet people,” Nyandak said. “We have opened offices in New York, D.C., and Boston with plans to expand to California, Tokyo, and Australia to gain international support.”Nyandak said Tibet’s outreach efforts and Chinese citizens’ support have not shown any dissolve with China, but he said China’s response to Tibet outreach efforts is insightful.“China has been researching Tibetan support in the U.S. to see how much problems our political campaign could generate for China,” he said. “The mood is strong for bringing change in communist China, we are still suffering but our suffering will end, it’s only a matter of time.”
(06/18/09 12:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There’s only one place in Bloomington where residents can eat foods from 40 different locations without having to walk more than a few steps in between each bite.The 27th annual Taste of Bloomington will take place at Showers Plaza from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday. The annual event, which brings in thousands of guests, will feature food and drinks from 40 local restaurants, breweries and wineries and five concerts from nationally recognized bands.The entrance fee is $6. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Hoosier Hills Food Bank and the Community Kitchen of Monroe County.Tasha Daueherty, director of communications for Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, said students can look forward to a variety of restaurants with gourmet to international cuisine as well as a variety of music genres.“There will be two stages featuring reggae, polka, blues and hip-hop at the Showers Plaza stage and acoustic music located on the Morton Street stage,” Daueherty said.Talisha Coppock, co-director for Taste of Bloomington, said Arts Fair on the Square, an arts fair put on by the Bloomington Area Arts Council will take place at the same time as the Taste of Bloomington and will be a great way for attendees to view and buy local artists’ work.The art fair will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the downtown Bloomington square.“It’s a great way for attendees to see the 100 shops located throughout downtown Bloomington and the character that’s our town,” Coppock said.Blooming Branch Green Events will partner with Taste of Bloomington this year to provide “green” event planning services to guide Taste of Bloomington to becoming an environmentally conservative event. Blooming Branch Green Events will provide “Team Green” volunteers to provide recycling services and assist vendors in choosing environmentally safe supplies.Blooming Branch Green Events’ owner Cristina McGinnis said her company is looking forward to contributing to environmentally safe practices for the event.“While there is certainly room for improvements at future Taste of Bloomington events, Blooming Branch is proud to be leading the festival in the right direction and hopes that each year there will be an increased effort towards sustainability,” McGinnis said in a press release.Ron Stanhouse, president of Bloomington Independent Restaurant Association and co-director of Taste of Bloomington, said students can look forward to an array of food and entertainment.“There will be a lot of restaurants offering unique courses, lots of great food offerings with good value and a fun atmosphere,” Stanhouse said.
(06/14/09 11:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With three lakes and countless preserves with trails for hiking, running and fishing, there’s no doubt that there’s a lot to do in Bloomington during the summer. Lake Monroe offers many inexpensive ways for students and residents to relax during the summer. Local fishing is popular at the lake and the fish are plentiful, said Rusty Collier, fishing guide and co-owner of J&R guide services. “The fishing is really good here,” Collier said. “It’s a better lake than I’ve been to in several states.”In addition to fishing, music can be heard on the lake. Lake Monroe’s Four Winds Marina stages live bands and delivers pizzas to fishermen and boats docked on the marina.Collier’s fishing services offer daylong guided fishing tours of Lake Monroe and discounts for college students.Travel a few miles outside Bloomington on U.S. 50, five minutes southwest of Bedford, and you’ll find the historic Bluespring Caverns. The park offers guided boat tours throughout the cave seven days a week.Mike Murphy, supervisor of Bluespring Caverns office and tours, said college students seem to enjoy the caves.“The boats are lighted, and a tour guide takes people through the cave to see blind fish specific to the darkness of the cave,” he said.Some students find spots around campus to relax and take a break from homework and hectic summer courses.Junior Kelly Stephens said she likes being on campus and relaxing outside.“I like sitting in the shade and reading,” Stephens said.Cornhole, a bean-bag tossing game, remains a popular activity students enjoy throughout the summer months. Recent IU graduate Annie Kirkwood said cornhole is her favorite summer pastime.“I like sitting outside and playing cornhole with my friends in the yard, and just being out,” Kirkwood said.IU students senior Dom Maican and junior Jake Spalding take advantage of the summer weather to stay active in outdoor activities.“We swim a lot at our apartment complex, and I’ve been doing a lot of running around the campus,” Spalding said.But if you don’t have a pool to cool off in at your apartment, IU has an outdoor pool for recreation, lap swimming and sunbathing. Summer, weekly and daily passes can be purchased at the pool’s Fee Lane location. Maican and Spalding said they like taking their dogs to Bryan Park on Woodlawn Avenue for walks on the weekends.Other popular parks for dog lovers are Griffy Lake Nature Preserve on North Hinkle Road, about five minutes from the stadiums, and Lake Lemon in Unionville, Ind., about 30 minutes northeast of Bloomington.Students looking for excitement and an opportunity to explore Bloomington’s abundance of nature preserves, lakes and trails should visit IU Outdoor Adventures in the Indiana Memorial Union. The store offers rental for outdoor-related items such as camping tents and kayaks. Part of IU student fees support IU Outdoor Adventures, and the store offers 10 percent discounts to students.Tyler Kivland, supervisor and trip leader for IU Outdoor Adventures, said rentals are reasonable and great for one-day or weekend excursions.“Kayaks are the most popular rental,” he said. “It’s an affordable activity to rent a kayak or canoe and head out to Lake Lemon or Monroe.”IU Outdoor Adventures also offers extended-length excursions with a group leader to kayak, camp and get outside. Kivland said he’s excited for the 11-day trip to Apostle Island, Wisc.“It’s an unbelievable place. They don’t allow boats with motors so you can literally drink the water you’re canoeing in,” Kivland said. “It’s a great deal, too. The 11 days includes food, travel, rental costs – everything.”For more excitement and speed, Bloomington offers Upper Cascades Skate Park and Bloomington Speedway.Welcoming college students and race fans, Bloomington Speedway hosts sprint-car and super-stock races every Friday night. But if a slower speed is more your pace, Vencel Balloons, Inc. and Balloon Safaris, both in Bloomington, offer weekend hot air balloon rides.Those not so outdoorsy can find weekend entertainment at the Starlite Drive-In movie theater, nestled in the woods off Indiana 37 Bypass since 1956. The family-owned business offers two movies for $7 Friday and Saturday nights.Jenna Baxter, manager of the drive-in and Ivy Tech student, said Starlite is a great, relaxed atmosphere for college students.She said moviegoers are encouraged to bring their own food and dogs as long as they are leashed.“I think the reason we’ve stayed in business all these years is that we provide a personal experience for our audience,” Baxter said.
(06/10/09 11:52pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the first American foundation developed solely for scientific research, awarded IU assistant chemistry professor Lane Allen Baker with its prestigious Cottrell Scholar Award last week. Research Corporation for Science Advancement named Baker one of 10 scientists across the country to receive a $100,000 grant for scientific research and teaching.Award winners are selected based on the quality of their scientific research and their dedication to teaching at both graduate and undergraduate levels.Baker said he’s honored to receive the award and its benefits for research in the IU chemistry department. “The money is great for the department and my research group,” Baker said. “It will help support graduate student salaries and research opportunities for undergraduates.”Baker said the money will also fund his current project targeting high school students and IU undergraduate students who own iPods and other electronic devices to create podcasts and downloadable discussions about chemistry in modular units.“The money will help fund research to develop electronic media and content in chemistry to bridge distance divides and contribute to a more diverse media of communication about chemistry research,” Baker said.Baker’s research group is composed of graduate and undergraduate students studying nanopores, tiny openings in living organisms. Maks Berylo, graduate student and member of Baker’s research group, said Baker’s teaching techniques make him a great person to work for and deserving of the award.“He’s open to your ideas, he’s there any time you need him or have questions to ask and he has a really laid-back style,” Berylo said.Kayla Mathews, a sophomore in IU’s chemistry department and a Baker group member, said Baker provides opportunities for her to assist in research.“He listens to input, and he makes sure I have the ability to see and assist with research I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise,” Mathews said. “He’s the perfect balance in a teacher – very laid-back but is hands-on and provides a diverse collection of research.”
(06/09/09 9:02pm)
The National Peptide Symposium began Sunday gathering students, professors, scientists and industry leaders from around the world to exchange cutting edge research in biotechnology developments.
(06/09/09 9:02pm)
The National Peptide Symposium began
Sunday gathering students, professors, scientists and industry leaders
from around the world to exchange cutting edge research in biotechnology
developments.